Method of and apparatus for supporting and manipulating loom harness



L. R. COX

Oct. 8, 1935.

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND MAN IPULATING LOOM HARNESS FiledJune 1, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 i X m 6 A 1; L .D i 3 m w 3 1 a D f h Oct.8, 1935. 1.. R. cox 2,016,543

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND MANIPULATING LOOM HARNESSFiled June 1, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 abbot/mm;

Oct. 8, 1935. R cox 2,016,543

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING AND MANIPULATING LOOM HARNESSFiled June 1, 1954 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Qct. 8, 1935 UNITED STATESPATENT oFFmE PORTING HARNE S S AND MANIPULATING LOOM Laurence E. Cox,Greer, S. 0.

Application June 1, 1934, Serial No. 728,579

23 Claims.

My invention is apparatus for supporting and manipulating the harness ofa loom during its repair or adjustment.

An important object of the invention is to provide apparatus of theabove mentioned character,

so constructed that the worn or damaged heddles may be removed andreplaced without separating the warp from the remaining heddles.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the abovementioned character, which is so constructed that the work may beaccomplished accurately and quickly.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the abovementioned character which will hold the harnesses and dropwires ordropwire rods, in a secure manner, whereby they may be inverted, whendesired.

A further object of the invention is to provide apparatus of the abovementioned character which will permit of the entire separation andremoval of the harness frame from the heddles.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent in thecourse of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application and inwhich like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout thesame,

Figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus em-' bodying my invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the same,

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the warp frame, showing anauxiliary end and associated elements.

Figure 3 is a transverse section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2,

Figure 4 is a detailed section taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3,

Figure 5 is a side elevation of a harness,

Figure 6 is a transverse section taken on line 86 of Figure 5,

Figure 7 is a transverse section taken on line 'I'i of Figure 5,

Figure 8 is a transverse section through one of the heddle bars,

Figure 9 is an enlarged transverse section taken on line 9-9 of Figure2,

Figure 10 is a plan view of a section of the cloth and warp threads,and,

Figures 11 to 19 inclusive are end elevations of the harness frames,showing the consecutive steps taken in the use of my apparatus in therepairing of the heddles and harness frames.

In the drawings, wherein for the purpose of 5.5 illustration is shown'apreferred embodiment of my invention, the numeral l5 designates an outerstationary frame, which is preferably rectangular and embodies verticalends 16, connected by horizontal side members ll, which are arrangednear the bottoms of the ends, whereby the upper 5 portions of the sidesof the outer stationary frame 'are open. Extending or arranged at oneside of the outer stationary frame is a horizontal shelf I8, upon whichthe harnesses rest, during the beginning of the operation, as will bedescribed. 10

Disposed within the top of the outer stationary frame is a swinging oradjustable warp frame [9, which is preferably rectangular. This frameembodies ends 28, which are pivotally supported at their centers bybolts or pivots 2|, which are at- 15 tached to the upper portions of theends I6. One end 20 is provided upon its outer side with openings 22,for receiving a lock pin 23, slidable within an opening formed in theend Hi. When the warp frame I9 is in either of its horizontal posi- 20tions, the pin 23 may be inserted into the corresponding opening 22 andwill thereby lock the warp frame IS in the horizontal position. The warpframe l9 further embodies a side 24, having a longitudinal slot 25, anda side 26, provided 25 upon one edge thereof with a longitudinal groove21, which is preferably slidably tapered in crosssection, decreasing inwidth downwardly. Adapted for insertion within the groove or recesses21, is a clamping member 28, preferably having a 30 covering 29 offabric. This clamping member-is also slightly tapered in cross-section,decreasing in width inwardly. The clamping member 28 is adapted to beforced into the groove 21 and will wedge or clamp the warp within thegroove 21, 35 as will be more fully explained. The side 26 and clampingelement 28 therefore constitute the coacting members of the clamp forbinding the warp to the side of the warp frame.

The warp frame I9 is provided with harness 40 supportingdevices,,preferably arranged at a right angle thereto, and extendingbeyond the same, upon its opposite sides. Each harness supporting deviceembodies a rigid strap 30, formed of metal or the like, which is rigidlyattached to the 45 end 20 by screws 3| or the like. The strap 30 isdisposed at a right angle to the end 20 and extends beyond the same forsubstantial distances beyond its opposite sides. This strap is providedat one end with an opening 32, receiv- 50 ing the outer end of ahorizontal rod 33, carrying clamping nuts 34, having screw-threadedengagement therewith. It is thus seen by manipulation of the nuts 34 therod 33 may be longitudinally adjusted with relation to the strap 30 andlocked thereto in a selected adjusted position. At its lower end, thestrap 30 is provided with a longitudinal slot 34, receiving the end of arod 35, having'screw-threaded engagement with nuts 36. By manipulationof these nuts 36 the rod 35 may be shifted toward or from the rod 33 andalso longitudinally adjusted with respect to the strap 30 and thenclamped to the strap in the selected adjusted position. The rods 33 and35 are arranged within the limits of the warp frame 20 and arehorizontally disposed, and carry U-shaped brackets 31 upon their innerends. Each rod extends through an opening in the base of the U-shapedbracket 31 and is clamped thereto by means of nuts 38. The U- shapedbrackets have openings 39 formed in their sides to rotatably receiveholding rods or elements 45, having laterally bentends 4|. Each holdingelement is rotatably mounted within the openings 39, and is held againstlongitudinal displacement by pins 42, inserted within the openingsformedwithin the rod.

Disposed within the corners of the warp frame I9, next to the groove 21,are blocks 43, rigidly attached to the warp frame. These blocks havelongitudinally extending grooves 44 formed in their upper surface forreceiving dropwire rods 45 (Figs. 13 to 19) Each set of grooves isadapted to be covered by a latch-strap 46, having one end permanentlypivotally attached to the side 26, as shown at 41, while the oppositeend of the latch-strap has a transverse notch 48, to receive a bolt 49,attached to the block, and carrying a winged-nut 55. The latch-strap maytherefore be clamped in the closed position, wherein it extends acrossthe grooves 44.

The Warp frame l9 may be formed in any desired length, so that theelements 40 will receive the harness frames. If desired, one end 20 andassociated elements could be longitudinally adjustably mounted upon thesides 24 and 26. I also contemplate the provision of means whereby thewarp frame IS will handle unusually short harness frames. Such meanscomprises an additional end 25, Figure 1 which will be suitably mountedwithin the warp frame l9 inwardly of the adjacent end 20, and spacedfrom the remote end 25 a suitable distance, depending upon the length ofthe short harness frames. The same strap 36, and elements 33, 31 and 40are employed. The same block 43 is mounted upon the end 253' having thesame grooves and latch 46, but this latch is slightly shortened andpivoted directly upon the block 43.

In Figure 5, I have shown a loom harness designated as a whole by thenumeral 5|. This harness includes a harness frame embodying outerlongitudinal slats 52, which are rigidly connected at their ends by ironend members or bars 53,

attached thereto by any suitable means. These end members or bars areprovided with slots 54, spaced inwardly from the slats 52 and arrangedto receive heddle rods 55. These heddle rods are removable from theslots 54, and are normally held in place by hooks 56, preferablyconnected with the end bars 53, at 57, and having the ends adapted forinsertion within openings 58 formed in the ends of the heddle bars. Theheddle bars also pass through hooked studs 59 which are detachablyconnected with the slats 52. The heddle bars 55 carry the heddles 55,having outer eyes 6| which receive the heddle bars 55, and inner eyes 62which receive the warp. In Figure 5, certain of the upper eyes 6| areshown as broken and certain of the lower eyes during the replacementoperation, as will be more 5 fully explained.

The operation of the apparatus is as follows:

The apparatus is not positioned in any particular relation to the loomand is ordinarily in a separate room from the loom. The warp beam 10ordinarily runs empty of warp in about four weeks, and at this time itis customary to inspect the harness and make the necessary repairs, andit is seldom that repairs to the harness are made before the warp beamruns empty. Prior to my 15 invention, when the warp beam ran empty, theharness was inspected or repaired, and the practice was to remove all ofthe warp from the heddle eyes, drop-eyes and reed. The harness was thenremoved from the loom and repaired, and 20 when this was completed, thewarp threads of a full warp beam were drawn by hand through the heddleeyes, drop-eyes and reed. This threading operation is very timeconsuming as it is done by hand. By the practice of my invention this 25.threading in of the warp threads is entirely being a short length ofwarp threads wound 30 thereon, such as from one to three yards, the

loom being at rest, the operator first removes the drop rods 45 carryingthe drop wires from the loom and slides them along the warp thread untilthey are brought into contact with the harness 35' frames, Figure 11,and he then ties the ends of the drop rods to the harness frame. He thenslips the warp beam out of gear and cuts the cloth 64, Figure 10, alongthe lines t5, leaving a narrow strip of the cloth permanently attached40 to the warp threads 65. He next removes the reed 51 from the reedcap. I-Ie next turns the warp beam by hand for winding up the warpthread thereon which will slide through the heddle eyes and drop-eyesand the cut cloth 84 will 5 bring the reed 6'! in contact with the sideof the harness frame or heddles, Figure 11. It is thus seen that thedrop rods, harness frames and reed are closely assembled to produce aunit, Figure 11, which is known as a pattern unit and this pat- 50 ternunit is next removed from the loom. To accomplish this, the short lengthof warp thread 66 is unwound from the warp beam and the end of thesewarp threads are loosely tied, as shown at 68. The pattern unit is nowbodily removed from 55 the loom and carried to my apparatus adjacent tothe side 24 of the warp frame 59 and this unit is bodily lifted over theside 24 and placed upon the shelf I8, in a more or less verticalposition, on edge, Figure 12. The warp frame l 9 is now locked so in thehorizontal position and the reed SI is passed through the slot 25 untilit is arranged adjacent to and outwardly of the side 24, Figure 13. Thewarp threads are nowpassed over the side 26 and smoothed out and drawnsomewhat tight 65 and then the clamp element 28 is forced into thegroove 2? which further tightens the warpthreads and holds them againstslipping, Figure 1 The clamp element is tied to the side 25 by a cord orthe like and the warp threads are securely 70 clamped to the side 28 ofthe warp frame. The drop rods 45, carrying the drop wires, not shown,are now untied from the harness frames and slid forwardly upon the warpthreads and are introduced into the grooves 44 and are held therein by75 ,on the shelf i8.

operator HOW removes threads toward the drop rods 45. When the removedupper heddle rods 55 are in this freed position, the supplemental heddlerod or bar 63 is now threaded through the upper eyes 6| of the heddles60, Figure 8, but is not threaded j. through. the heddle eyes which areworn or need replacement. The upper heddle rod 55 is now bodily removedfrom all of the heddleeyes 6|. The perfect heddle eyes remain on thesupplemental heddle bar 63, while the imperfect heddle eyes are notmounted thereon. The lower heddle eyes 6| must also be inspected whenthis change is made so that any heddle 69 having worn or damaged upperor lower heddle eyes or worn or damaged eyes 62, will thus be omittedfrom the supplemental heddle bar 63. The warp threads connected with thedamaged heddles 6B are now broken and new heddles substituted for thedamaged or worn heddles and the broken warp threads passed through theeyes 62 of the new heddles and tied. The upper heddle rod or bar 55 isagain threaded through all of the upper eyes 61 of the old retainedheddles and the new heddles, and. after this the supplemental heddle rodor bar 63. is withdrawn, leaving all eyes 6! upon the upper heddle bar55. The top of each harness is treated in a similar manner for replacingworn or damaged heddles. During this operation the harness frames haveremained supported on edge The operator next places two steel rods 69,Figure 1'7, upon the horizontally arranged warp frame I!) and these rodsrest upon the side 26. and the reed 51 and also pass through theharness. frames 5!. The harness frames are now removed from the shelf l8and their lower portions may be slid to the outside of the stationaryframe I5, the lower sides 52 of the harness frames projecting exteriorlyof the frame l5 at the side thereof while the upper slats 52 aresupported by the steel rods, Figure 17. The the hooks 56 and hook studs59, and replaces them, if necessary. After the replacement is made theharness frames may again be rested upon the shelf is and are then.

mounted upon the holding rods 40, Figure 18, the extensions 4| beingmanipulated so that this may be accomplished and then directed outwardlyto retain the harness frames thereon. The pin 23- is now removed and thewarp frame 24 is turned for 180 to invert thesame, Figure 19, and isagain locked in the horizontal position. The harness frames are nowremoved from the holding rods 40 and supported on edge upon the tray i8,and the same cycle of operation is again performed to remove the wornheddles from the then upper bar 55 and substitute new heddles, and alsofor repairing the then lower slats of the harness frames. After theheddle rods or bars 55 at the top position, have thus been assembled inthe harness frames, these harness frames are again returned to positionupon, the hold rods 49 and are held thereon. The warp frame E9 is againinverted and the harness frames are again removed from the rods 49. andsupported on edge 5 upon the shelf [8, andthe then upper heddle rods maynow be lifted out of the same.

or bars 55 are inserted within the openings 54 of the ends 53. The droprods 65 are now removed from the grooves 44 and are again shifted intocontact with the heddle frames and are tied thereto- The clamp element28 is now removed from 5 the groove 21 and the warp threads 66 freed.These warp threads may now be pulled toward the side 24 so that the reed61 may be shifted a slight distance from the side 24 and passed inwardlythrough the slot 25 and the warp threads may again be pulled toward theside 25 so that the reed will be drawn into contact with the harnessframes. Their parts will then assume the position shown in Figure 12. Itis thus seen that the drop rods, harness, and reed constituting thepattern unit are separated from the warp frame and This unit is nowtaken to a machine which will tie the free ends of the warp threads 66with the warp threads of a full warp beam, and the unit is next 20,

carried to the loom with this full warp beam and the several parts ofthe pattern unit are again assembled in the loom and the cloth strip 64is stitched to the end of the cloth in the loom. The

loom is now ready to be operated in the usual manner.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is:

1. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harness ofa loom, a relatively 80) stationary outer support having a part servingas a supporting element for the harness, a warp frame pivotally mountedupon the relatively stationary support so that it may be turned andinverted with relation thereto, said warp frame having one side providedwith a longitudinal slot for the passage of the reed of the loom,clamping means associated with the opposite side of the Warp frame forengaging with the warp thread, and means mounted upon the warp frame for0 movement therewith and adapted to removably receive the harness.

2. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harness ofa loom, a relatively stationary support including a tray for supportingthe harness, a warp frame movably mounted upon the support so that itmay be inverted with relation thereto, one side of the warp frame beingadapted for engagement with the reed, clamping means associated with theopposite side of the warp frame for engaging the warp thread, and meansmounted upon the warp frame for movement therewith and adapted toremovably receive and hold the harness.

3. In apparatusfor use in repairing the warp thread carrying harness ofa loom, a relatively stationary support, a warp frame movably mountedupon the support so that it may be inverted with relation thereto, meanswhereby the warp thread may be connected with one side of the 0 warpframe, means whereby the warp thread may be connected with the oppositeside of the warp frame, and means mounted upon the warp frame formovement therewith and adapted to removably receive and hold theharness. 4. In apparatus for use in connection with the drop rods,harness, and reed of a loom for repairing the harn-ess, a support, awarp frame pivotally mounted upon the support to turn upon itslongitudinal axis with relation thereto so that it may be inverted andhaving means for holding the drop rods, releasable means for locking thewarp frame in substantially horizontal positions,

. means whereby the warp thread adjacent to the reed may be securedtoone side of the warp frame, means whereby the warp thread may besecured to the other side of the warp frame, and means mounted upon thewarp frame to move therewith and adapted to hold the harness atgenerally a right angle to the plane of the warp frame.

5. In apparatus for use in repairing the harness of a loom, a supportingframe, a warp frame extending longitudinally of the supporting frame andpivotally connected therewith, a warp thread carrying harness supportingdevice mounted upon the warp frame between the sides of the same andextending transversely of the ends of the warp frame, said warp framebeing provided with means whereby the warp threads may be attached toits opposite sides, and'a support arranged near the supporting frame andlower than the pivotal connections between the warp frame and thesupporting frame and serving to support the harness when separated fromthe harness supporting device.

6. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harness ofa loom, a supporting frame, a warp frame extending longitudinally of thesupporting frame and pivotally connected therewithand provided near oneside with means for holding drop rods, a harness supporting devicemounted upon the warp frame between its sides, and a harness supportingelement attached to the supporting frame near one side thereof.

'7. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harnessof a loom, a supporting frame, a warp frame pivotally connectedtherewith so that it may be inverted, means to lock the warp frame in agenerally horizontal position, a harness supporting device mounted uponthe warp frame, a supporting element arranged near one side of thesupporting frame, and rods adapted to be placed upon the warp frame forsupporting the upper side of the harness so that its lower side may beshifted into engagement with the supporting element.

8. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harness ofa loom, a supporting frame embodying a harness supporting elementdisposed adjacent to one side thereof, a warp frame pivotally mountedupon the supporting frame to be inverted with relation thereto, membersattached to the ends of the warp frame and extending laterally beyondthe opposite sides of the same, devices carried by the opposite ends ofeach member for engaging with the harness, and means for securing warpthread to the sides of the warp frame.

9. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harness ofa loom, a warp frame having one side provided with a longitudinal slotthrough whi h the reed may be bodily passed in an outwardly direction sothat it may engage such side while disposed outwardly thereof, a clampmember for coaction with the opposite side of the frame for engagingwith the warp threads, and means mounted upon the warp frame to supportthe harness. 7

10. The combination with a warp thread carrying harness frame providedin its ends with openings, heddle rods to be held within the openings,heddles having eyes to be strung upon the heddle rods, and asupplemental heddle bar to be moved into the heddle eyes in the presenceof the heddle rod therein, both bars being inserted in selected eyes sothat such selected eyes are transferred to the suplemental bar upon theremoval of the original bar, and adjustable means for supporting theharness frame so that the sets shifted to a work position.

11. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harnessof a loom, a supporting structure, a support, means for supporting thesupport from the supporting structure so that the support may be turnedand inverted, devices carried by the support for holding the harness,and means for holding the warp threads so that they are retained withinthe heddle eyes.

12. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harnessof a loom, a supporting structure, a support, means for supporting thesupport from the supporting structure so that the support may be turnedand inverted, means carried by the support for holding the harness, andmeans for attaching the warp threads to the support so that they areretained within the heddle eyes.

13. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harnessof a loom, a shiftable support, means carried by the support for holdingthe harness, each side of the harness being brought to a work repairposition by the shifting of the support, and means for attaching thewarp threads to the support so that they are retained within the heddleeyes.

14. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harnessof a loom, a shiftable support, means carried by the support for holdingthe harness, each side of the harness being brought to a work repairposition by the shifting of the support, and means carried by thesupport for holding the warp threads in their normal orderly arrangementand retaining them in the heddle eyes.

15. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harnessof a 100m, a shiftable frame having sides, means mounted upon the framebetween the sides for holding the harness, each side of the harnessbeing brought to a work repair position by the shifting of the support,and means for securing the warp threads to the sides of the frame forholding them in substantially their normal orderly arrangement andretaining them in the heddle eyes.

16. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harnessof a loom, a shiftable frame having sides, means mounted upon the framebetween its sides for holding the harness, each side of the harnessbeing brought to a work repair position by the shifting of the frame,and means carried by the frame for holding the warp threads andretaining them in the heddle eyes.

17. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harnessof a loom, a frame having sides and means for holding drop rods, meansmounted upon the frame between the sides for holding the harness, andmeans for securing the warp threads to the sides of the frame andretaining the same within the heddle eyes.

18. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harnessof a loom, a frame havof eyes may be ing sides, means carried by theframe between the sides for holding the harness in a position within theframe and between the sides of the frame, andrne-ans for securing warpthreads to the sides of said frame and retaining the same within theheddle eyes.

19. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp asa thread carryingharness of a loom, apivoted sup- 7 port, means carried by the pivotedsupport for holding the harness so that each side of'the harness may bemoved to a work repair position, and a stationary supporting element forthe harness when it is separated from the harness holding means.

20. In apparatus for use in repairing the warp thread carrying harnessof a loom, a pivoted sup port, means carried by the pivoted support forholding the harness so that each side of the harness may be moved to awork repair position, supporting means to be passed through the harnesswhen it is separated from the harness holding means, and a stationarysupporting element disposed at a lower elevation than the supportingmeans for supporting the harness when separated from the holding means.

21. The method of repairing the harness of a loom by substituting newheddles for worn heddles, comprising removing the drop rods, harness,reed and Warp threads as a unit from the loom, supporting the drop rods,harness, reed and warp threads, connecting only the eyes of the unwornheddles, removing the heddle bar from the eyes of all of the heddles sothat the eyes of the unworn and worn heddles are separated, placing newheddles in positions for substitution for the worn heddles, connectingthe eyes of the unworn heddles and the new heddles by inserting theheddle bar through such eyes only, disconnecting the connected eyes ofthe unworn heddles, shifting the harness to bring the other side thereofto the work repair position, and treating the heddle eyes at this otherside in the same manner.

22. The method of repairing the harness of a loom, comprising supportingthe harness, holding the warp threads upon opposite sides of the harnessto retain them within the heddle eyes,

treating the heddle eyes in each set by connect- 5 ing only the eyes ofthe unworn heddles, removing the heddle bar from the eyes of all of theheddles so that the eyes of the unworn and Worn heddles are separated,placing new heddles in position for substitution for the worn heddles,connecting the eyes of the unworn heddles and the new heddles byinserting the heddle bar through such eyes only, and then disconnectingthe eyes of the unworn heddles.

23. The method of repairing the harness ofa loom, comprising supportingthe harness, retaining the warp threads within the eyes of the heddles,treating the heddle eyes in each set by connecting only the eyes of theunworn heddles, removing the heddle bar from the eyes of all of theheddles so that the eyes of the unworn and worn heddles are separated,placing new heddles in position for substitution for the worn heddles,connecting the eyes of the unworn heddles and the new heddles byinserting the heddle bar through such eyes only, and then disconnectingthe previously connected eyes of the unworn heddles.

LAURENCE R. cox.

